Double-acting internal-combustion engine



Jam l, 1929. 1,691,723

A. A. GIGLI DOUBLE ACTING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed July 50, 19262 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 1, 1929. 1,697,723

A. A. GlGLl DOUBLE ACTING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed July so, 19262 Sheets-Sh eet 2 Patented Jan. 1, 1929.

httifizb DOUBLE-ACTING INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Application filed July 36, 1926, Serial No. 126,049, and. in

This invention can be adapted to horizontal, vertical, or V typeengines; of either two stroke or four stroke cycle.

The present invention comprises essentially a double-acting engine inwhich the cylinders are cast in pairs, or series of pairs, with cylinderheads or combustion chambers at both ends.

The cylinder heads or combustion chambers are detachable, the combustionspace in. each cylinder head being common to two cylinder bores orexpansion chambers.

Each pair of cylinders which are cast in one block, are arranged withslots or passages through the inner and outer walls, so that thegudgeon-pin can be passed through the outer walls into the piston in thefirst cylinder, and then through the inner walls into the second pistonin the adjacent cylinder, so that the pistons in each pair of cylinderswork unitedly on a. common gudgeonpin. 7

The pistons are double-headed or twintype arranged to withstand highpressure at both ends, and the mounting of the aforementionedgudgeon-pin is midway between the piston heads, the pistons being freeor fully floating on the gudgeon pin.

The connecting rod is mounted on the central portion of theaforementioned gudgeonpin and thus transmits the power developer; on thefour piston heads. Alternatively the gudgeon-pin could be extended, andsupported by two connecting rods, one at each outer side.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation showincylinders and pistons as described, adapted to a. horizontal engine madein accordance with this invention. The left hand set of cylinders show asection on AA, and the right hand cylin ders show a sect-ion on BB asFig. 2. I

Fig. 2 is a. sectional plan on CC, and'DD of Fig. 1; the section on DDshows the pistons in full.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the cylinder block at E, Fig. 1

Great Britain August 10, 1925.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the cylinder block at F, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a section through gud geon-pin and pistons, showing thealternative method of using two connecting rods.

Fig. 6 is an end view showing the combustion head in the alternativemethod of using two connecting rods. 7

Referring to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, which illustrate adouble-actinginternalcombustion engine of the horizontal type. embodying two cylinderunits opposed to each other; each cylinder block a has two bores b b andc c: the ends or faces of the cylinder blocks at a? and e are eachmachined to carry removable combustion heads 9 and f.

The face of the cylinder block at e is extended for mounting the crankchamber, this same face also forms oil joint for return of lubricant.

The combustion headsj, f are located be tween the casing in which isarranged the main crankshaft and the cylinder blocks a, the inner endsof the cylinders in which are closed by the said heads. This arrangementmakes for compactness in the construction of the engine and also permitsa ready access to the inner ends of the cylinder blocks and of thepistons therein by the removal of the heads.

The combustion space in head f is common to the two bores b and 0; andsimilarly the combustion space in head 9 is common .to bores Z) and 0.The combustion space in each of the heads 9 and f communicates with thebores in the cylinder, bloc-k through ports that are eachcontrolled byone set of valves only, thus assuring that at all times, and under allconditions, the pressure on each of the piston heads'which work unitedlyshall be equal.

i The pistons m and n are twin-type having a head at each end, h, j and70, Z. The pistons are packed or ringed at p, q, s, t. As thecon nectingrod works in a separate chamber from the cylinders, the crankshaftcanbe'otfset as shown at 1 and the additionalthrust iie shaft chamber a,the piston rings at s, and 26, being arranged to cut off the oil at asuitable point.

lNhen the pistonmoves onthe out-stroke, the rings a sweep the oil up thecylinder. When the piston moves on the instroke the oil isreturned bythe rings at p, and passes out of the cylinder by the slotor passage to.

The flow of oil is alsothe means of cooling the piston skirt.

The oil now flows back to the crank-chamberorthe-like via the duct m," abattle can be fixed at y so that the oil isdelayed.

.The duct 00 is so arranged that the cooling wwateriis admitted tocirculate about the cylinders from an adjac nt chamber through a port 2;thusithe temperature of the .oil is reduced beforeit returns to thecrank-chamber.

The gudgeon pin marked a is hollow pin of the .fully floating type. Thismay also be .arrangedas a semi-floatingpin, in which case it would befixed in the connecting rod, and floating in the pistons. The fullyfloating pin would be keptin position by a spring ring or any othermethod :usuallyemployed for this purpose.

The cylindersare arranged with slots or spaces 6 in the inner walls, sothat the gudgeon pincan reciprocate carrying both pistonsm and it. Theseslots or spaces are arranged to give clearance to the gudgeon- .pin,.and connecting rod small end. The cylindersalso have slots or spaces 0in the outer walls, so that by removing covers (Z and e thegudgeon-pinmay be dismounted. Thus by dismounting the gudgeon-pin, and removing thedetachable head, the pistons may be withdrawn, without disturbing anyother part-of the engine.

Referring to Fig. 3 this illustrates the end .view of the cylinder blocka, and shows the combustion head 7". which isshaped at f to allowpassage of the connecting; rod. The connecting rod reciprocates in thechamber between the cylinders open to the crank- ,chamber. The openingto the crank-chamber .is shown marked 9 thispassage or opening isenlarged at the bottom, to allow the small end of the connecting rod topass when -mounting ordismounted.

The openings of the oil returns (ducts m) are shown marked 71.2. Thepassage or space y is arranged for mounting driving mechanism .tothecameshaft.

Fig.4 shows the combustion head 9.

['The water inlet port 70 receives the cooling water for the cylinders,which as describedis adjacent to the oil return ducts, the water thenpasses up round the cylinders, and

returns to the cooling system via a port in each combustion head. Thecam shaft n Fig. l'is mounted in a chamber integral with cylinder block,and operates valves m Referring to Figs. 5 and 6 which illustrate analternative method; one connecting rod at each end or 'udgeon pin. 1 areconnecting rods, 2 are the pistons, 3 the combustion head, 4 thepassages or spaces in which the connecting rods reciprocate, and 5 theopenings of the oil return ducts.

Claims: i

1. In a doubleacting internal combustion engine, cylinders constructedin iairs with detachable cylinder-hcads at each end, a combustionchamber common to two cylinder bores formed in each head, pistonsconnected in pairs upon a common gudgeon pin and operating in unisonwithin said cylinders, and means for obtaining access to said grid geonpin for removal thereof.

2. In a double-acting internal combustion engine, cylinders cast inpairs, a casing in which is arranged the crank shaft of the enginelocated between the two pairs of cylinders, detachable heads at each endof said cylinders, the heads at the inner ends of the cylinders beingbetween the cylinders and the crank sha'tt casing, a combustion chamberin each head common to two cylinder bores, and pistons mounted in pairsfreely upon one gudgeon pin so as to reciprocate in unison, there beingpassages in the inner and outer walls of the cylinders for permittingremoval of the gudgeon pin.

3. In a double acting internal combustion engine, cylinders constructedin pairs, detachable heads at each cylinder end, a combustion chamber ineach head common to two cylin-' der's, pistons mounted in pairs upon acommon gudgeon pin and operating unitedly in pairs, meansor" access tosaid gudgeon pins from the exterior of the cylinders, a singleconnecting rod, and a chamber between each pair oi cylinder bores inwhich the connecting rod operates. J

4:. In a double-acting internal combustion engine, cylinders in whichmove double-ended pistons, crank casing located intermediate the saidcylinders, and detachable cylinder heads in which are formed combustionchambers closing the opposite ends'o'i' the cylinders, the heads at theinnerends of the cylinders being between the latter and the crank casingand each bodily removable to open the inner ends of the cylinders andexpose the pistons therein at then inner ends.

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